Science and Technology
In News: India handed over a Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reaffirming its security ties with the island nation.
- Security of India and Sri Lanka are enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation. Gifting of Dornier 228 is India’s latest contribution to this cause.
- The Indian gift was in response to a request from the Sri Lankan government in 2018 for two Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the island nation
- The gift to Sri Lanka will equip the country to contribute more towards the security of the Indian Ocean Region at large.
- Sri Lanka is a member of the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’, which began as a trilateral initiate involving India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and later included Mauritius, for maritime cooperation in the region.
Dornier 228
- The Dornier 228 is a general aircraft with twin engines capable of carrying at least 19 passengers.
- With its Short-Take off and Landing (STOL) capability, it is capable of operating on short runways as well as in hot environments.
- The Dornier 228 has been marketed as a general-service aircraft capable of operating in many roles such as military transport, couter aircraft or cargo hauler.
It carries our special missions such as:
- Maritime Surveillance
- Border Patrol
- Medical Evacuations
- Search and Rescue
- Paradrops
- Environmental research
- It is fitted with special equipment such as 360-degree surveillance radar, searchlights, operator stations, enlarged fuel tanks, satellite uplink etc.
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Source: The Hindu
